The negative effects of self-medication

Taking psychotropic drugs without control can entail great physical and psychological risks.

One of the consequences of the current pace of life and the high demands to which we are constantly exposed is an increase in chronic stress, as well as episodes of depression and anxiety in people of all age groups. episodes of depression and anxiety in people of all age ranges.

Associated with these social variables, we also have other personal variables that aggravate these states, such as a low tolerance to frustration and low tolerance to anxiety. low tolerance to frustration or negative emotions, or a poor approach to personal experiences or complex feelings that affect us on a daily basis. In today's society, one of the most common resources to cope with psychological discomfort in the face of many of these pressures is self-medication with psychotropic drugs, which can lead to the abuse of these drugs.This can lead to its abuse and become an added problem.

But: are psychotropic drugs necessary?

In many cases they are.. Psychiatric medication can be of great help to channel a psychological or behavioral problem in a specific and punctual moment of the person's life. Let us remember that the main function of this type of substances is to regulate the action of certain neurotransmitters, improving some of the symptoms suffered by the affected person.

In addition, in severe mental disorders in which there is a high degree of maladjustment, we know that medication is strictly necessary and that it has a crucial role in the patient's adaptation, although the psychological and family intervention that usually accompanies this type of cases cannot be left aside.

The psychological effects of self-medication with psychotropic drugs

However, in many other cases, the use of drugs is being overused and misdirected as a solution to psychological distress. that arises in the face of everyday problems or symptoms that do not justify their use. The prescription of psychotropic drugs should be prescribed by a physician and be accompanied by additional psychological treatment if long-term improvements are to be maintained. We know a lot about the physiological side effects of the use of these drugs, but it is also relevant to highlight the psychological side effects that remain in the person at the level of self-efficacy or perception of problem solving.

Most of the problems that create suffering in patients who ask for help are of psychosocial origin, not of biochemical origin, so that if the true cause and origin of the problem is not found, it will be difficult to find a solution, nor will it be possible to withdraw the drug.The drug (whose purpose is the transitory stabilization of the symptom, and not the chronic medication as a sustained solution) cannot be withdrawn either.

The use of drugs without professional control: a real Russian roulette

The real problem of self-medication is the use of drugs on one's own initiative, without a medical prescription, control or professional diagnosis associated with such a drug.without any medical prescription, control or professional diagnosis associated with the drug. How many of us have taken a pill for a headache, a backache or to sleep at some point in our lives? In these cases in which we treat a cold, a punctual discomfort, we would be talking about a responsible and time-limited self-medication.

The problems begin when the self-medication is prolonged in excess or is established as a resource to control an annoying symptom, but without treating the origin of the problem. but without treating the origin of the symptom. It is common in such a case that the person believes that he/she needs such medication to cope with his/her daily life or to face his/her problems. Specifically, and especially, we refer to antidepressant, anxiolytic and hypnotic psychotropic drugs whose consumption is becoming normalized in the medium and long term when the indications of the drug itself have time limits of use.

Effects (physical and psychological) of the bad habit of self-medication

Apart from the typical physical effects when a chemical is consumed, we will point out the tolerance, abstinence y dependence resulting when some of these drugs are taken without control for long periods of time.

However, as the most important effect we want to highlight is at the psychological level, due to the lack of control or responsibility in the face of improvement. The consumption of drugs for the resolution of psychological problems facilitates the development of what is known as external locus of control by diverting improvement to an external resource independent of the person. A patient with depressive or anxiety symptomatology may learn that he needs medication to get better and act on his condition, not learn that he is able to act on his condition to get better. Sometimes this effect can this effect can hinder the patient's progress by not acquiring the necessary resources to resolve a given situation on his own..

Examples and possible solutions

Let's take an example, a person with a certain degree of social degree of social anxiety that experiences great discomfort before certain situations ends up developing a work of face to the public in which it spends much anxiety, affecting its execution. The solutions require quitting the job (which is not an option because he needs economic support), actively looking for another job, resorting to medication for anxiety, which he will have to continue taking as long as he keeps that job, or learning to face social situations in another way, with a treatment plan that includes working on anxiety, social skills and self-esteem, among other things.

In cases like this one, what we are trying to reflect is that escape or taking drugs are methods of avoidance of the real problem, which will not contribute anything to the growth of the patient.that will not contribute anything to growth or personal learning through experience. Medication yes, but always with supervision and for cases that require it.